16 Super-Easy Ways to Get Cheap Starbucks Drinks on the Regular Brew-tiful tips are here

16 Super-Easy Ways to Get Cheap Starbucks Drinks on the Regular Brew-tiful tips are here

If you’re obsessed with Starbucks a whole latte, you know that the cost of premium coffee adds up. But whether you visit every day or once a month, there’s no reason to pay full price. Utilizing just one easy savings trick will make your bank account happy over time.

Here are 16 ways to save money at Starbucks when you need your next coffee fix.

1. Sign up for Starbucks Rewards.

Sign up for Starbucks Rewards (it’s free!) and get a free beverage or treat on your birthday and a 15% off coupon for StarbucksStore.com. Once you’re in the program, you’ll earn two stars for every $1 spent. Stars add up to rewards, which you can redeem for free food and drinks.

Earn even more stars by going to Starbucks on monthly “Double-Star Days” (four stars per $1 spent) or through personalized offers—be sure to opt in to email to receive these offers. You can also earn stars when you purchase qualifying Starbucks products in your grocery store.

2. Snag seconds with the Starbucks free refill policy.

Is one cup of coffee ever enough? When you’re in the rewards program and use your registered Starbucks Card or app to purchase any handcrafted beverage, you can get free refills of brewed coffee (hot, iced or cold brew) and tea (hot or iced) during the same store visit, regardless of the original beverage.

Pro tip:Even if you’re not signed up for the rewards program, you can get coffee refills while you’re in the store for around 50 cents with your purchase.

3. Enjoy $2 iced lattes.

Typically, iced venti lattes run over $4. Order a triple espresso over ice in a venti cup, and then fill your cup with milk over in the condiment area. That’s one cheap Starbucks drink!

4. Use discount gift cards.

If you know you’re going to spend the money anyway, why not save some cash along the way? Get a Starbucks discount gift card, and you’ll save a surprising percentage off the purchase price. These cards are a great budget hack even when Starbucks isn’t offering a promo code. Plus, you can use discount gift cards online and in store with no expiration date or exclusions.

5. BYOC (bring your own cup).

Bringing in your own tumbler or mug will earn you 10 cents off your order. If you grab a drink every day, that’s $36.50 per year in savings, plus the satisfaction of 365 fewer cups per year in your local landfill. (Be even more environmentally friendly by ditching straws with your iced beverages.)

6. For a cheap Starbucks drink for two, split a venti with a friend.

When getting an iced drink, a tall size is 12 ounces, while an iced venti is 24 ounces. Splitting a bigger size can get you just as much drink for less.

7. Cut out the ice.

Ice cubes take up a lot of cup real estate. You’re paying for your drink—not for ice—so ask for light ice. If you still want the full amount of ice, ask for it on the side, and order your drink in a larger cup for an easy way to save money at Starbucks.

8. Switch from frapps to iced.

Frappuccinos are great, but they’re also more expensive. An iced coffee like a white chocolate mocha or caramel macchiato tastes blissful and will save you about $1—and some unnecessary calories and sugar.

9. Don’t buy the bottled water.

The bottles of water at Starbucks are a total trap. You can get a cup of ice water with a lid in any size for free. All you have to do is ask.

10. Ask for no water with your tea.

Starbucks steeps its iced teas to be extra strong and then adds water to the presteeped tea. Get more caffeine for your buck by requesting no water with your iced tea.

If you don’t need the caffeine and just want something sweet to sip on, don’t get your usual high-caffeine drink. There are cheaper options like teas, hot chocolates and lemonades that can save you a buck and still satisfy your sweet tooth.

12. Order a short.

Tall isn’t the smallest size. Get a short, which is less expensive and contains the same amount of espresso as a tall, just less milk. Word on the street is the short isn’t the only secret size: They offer a 31-ounce trenta size for cold drinks.

13. Know your caffeine content.

If you have to get a caffeine fix ASAP, know how much is really in your drink before you upgrade to the largest cup Starbucks will give you. A lot of drinks—mainly mochas, lattes and macchiatos—have the same caffeine content in the grande and venti sizes (two shots) or in short and tall sizes (one shot).

Check out this caffeine guide, and take a look at the composition of your favorite drinks. Odds are that a larger size is only slowing down how fast you drink your caffeine while costing you more money.

14. Treat your furry pals, too.

Order a puppy latte or Puppuccino, and your pet gets a sample cup of whipped cream for free.

15. Drink a coffee press with friends.

Availability varies by location, but if you’re meeting a friend or a group of friends for a coffee date, try to order a French press, and you’ll get 32 ounces of coffee to share. When you do the math, this can cost you half of what it would have to each get individual cups.

16. Build your own chai latte.

Instead of ordering the fancy, expensive chai latte, make your own at the condiment bar. Simply order a chai brewed tea and then add milk and sugar to your liking at the condiment station.

All these tips will have you well on your way to saving money at Starbucks. Heard of any more Starbucks hacks we didn’t list? Let us know in the comments below.

This blog post was originally published on October 19, 2017, and has been updated for accuracy and to add more savings hacks.